122 Thiktt-Fifth Annual Report of the 



In one factory which I have in mind they have kept a record 

 of the number of pounds of defective cream for the last few 

 years. Where in 1903. 11 per cent, of their product came de- 

 fective, only I per cent, of their product came defective in 1904. 

 The report from one creamery showed they had reduced the 

 amount of defective cream 75 per cent. ; another record showed 

 they had reduced it more than 50 per cent. Every factory that 

 has reported has reported a reduction in defective cream. 



Some people at first thought it was a sort of a trust, but it 

 is a trust that is formed for the benefit of the very men who were 

 opposed to it. It was thought it might be possible to have the 

 price regulated and controlled, but that was impossible with us, 

 and I presume it is with you because they have got productive 

 creameries and they pay whatever is left after paying the expense. 

 If you have a proprietary creamery they are obliged to pay the 

 same prices or they do not get the business. So I say it is im- 

 possible for one creamer}' to do an injury to the other in this 

 matter, and the matter of trusts cannot aflFect the price as they 

 improve the quality of your product. 



There is but one thing in regard to the co-operation of the as- 

 sociation that may work harm and that thing is the idea of some 

 creamery man will agree to do this and then not stick to his bar- 

 gain, that is the only thing and that, so far we have escaped. 



There was one hint made yesterday that seems to me should 

 not have been said and that was in regard to the creamery man 

 or factory paying more to some individual patron than they were 

 paying to others. The most serious condition we have in our 

 state is with the fact that the people haven't as much confidence 

 ill the Babcock test as they ought to have. You people know 

 that can be used to determine the amount of your fat, and 

 you farmers are coming to know pretty nearly how much your 

 product amounts to. The man who is over-paid realizes that the 

 creamery man is not honest, he is going to watch him, because if 

 over-paid now he will be underpaid next month. Our creamery 

 men should see to this matter that the test is used in such a 

 manner that every man gets his just dues. I believe, if anvthing 

 is going to help out the dairy business with us it is when our 

 people know, as it is their duty to know, how much product they 

 are selling, and watch the creamery man as they watch anvbodv 

 they do business with, then they would succeed in establishing a 

 confidence which is absolutely necessary if they are going to 

 increase the business. 



I thank you for the cordial manner in which I have been 

 received into your state. I have a great nianv new ideas to 

 carry back to Maine and I trust if any of you have an opportunity 



